On January 26, 2023, Judge Darrin Gayles dismissed Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal.

The legal dispute started after The Wall Street Journal published a report in July 2025. Donald Trump denied writing or signing the letter. He accused the outlet of knowingly publishing a fake story to defame him. US District Judge Darrin Gayles dismissed the initial complaint in April 2026. Judge Gayles granted Trump leave to file an amended version of the complaint.

1. Judge Darrin Gayles dismissed the lawsuit on October 31, 2026, with prejudice. In his ruling, Judge Gayles cited the 1964 Supreme Court case New York Times Co. v. Sullivan.

2. Judge Gayles stated that the lawsuit conflicted with First Amendment protections for the press. In his written decision, he described the legal action as "grasping at straws."

1. Donald Trump's legal team announced they will challenge the court's latest ruling. The attorneys intend to contest the dismissal of the $10 billion defamation lawsuit.

2. The lawsuit names Dow Jones, Rupert Murdoch, and two reporters as defendants. The filing seeks to hold these parties responsible for a report regarding a birthday letter from 2003.

3. The Wall Street Journal report alleged the birthday letter was part of a 2003 birthday book compiled for Jeffrey Epstein. The report claimed the letter was collected by British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell.

4. The House Oversight Committee published a copy of the alleged birthday note in 2025.

5. Donald Trump filed a defamation lawsuit against the outlet seeking $20 billion in damages. A court dismissed the case in April 2026. Trump submitted an amended complaint in May 2026.